Laundry equipment



United States Patent 2,995,917 LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT Henry W. Altorfer, Peoria, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Maryland Filed June 11, 1958, Ser. No. 741,409 14 Claims. (Cl. 6815) This invention relates to laundry equipment and more particularly to such equipment having provisions for heat ing cleaning liquid therein.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement for heating cleaning liquid.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement in laundry equipment for heating cleaning liquid therein.

A further object of my invention is to provide a new and improved arrangement within a laundry equipment cleaning receptacle for heating cleaning liquid by circulating said liquid from the receptacle to a heating unit and to return same to said receptacle for recirculation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a clothes washing machine embodying features of my invention and showing a portion thereof broken away and in cross section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view in cross section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a pump oper ating mechanism within the agitator body of the washing machine used with the present invention and having a portion thereof broken away and in cross section;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in cross section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram embodying features of my invention.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 20 designates in general my new and improved laundry equipment which includes a combination washing and centrifuging machine having provisions for heating cleaning liquid such as wash water. The machine. 20 includes a casing 22 having a top wall 24. The interior of the casing is divided by a horizontal partition wall 26 to form therebelow a machine compartment 25. Secured to and extending up wardly from the partition wall 26 to the top wall 24 is a cylindrical tub 32 within which is positioned a wash basket or receptacle 34. Within the wash basket or receptacle is an agitator or dasher 36. The receptacle 34 is formed with a top opening 38 in spatial alignment with an access opening 40 formed in the top wall 24. The opening 40 is closed by a hinged lid 42.

The receptacle 34 and the dasher 36 are suitably supported and driven by a drive mechanism 44 comprising a hollow shaft 46, a shaft 50, a motor 52, belt pulley drives 54, 56, clutches 62, 64, and 66 and a drive center ing and supporting device 68.

The receptacle 34 is supported and carried upon the hollow shaft 46 for rotation therewith. The dasher 36 is secured to and carried by a crank pin 69 of the shaft 50 for rotation thereby. The shaft 50 extends centrally through the hollow shaft 46 and is vertically supported in a bearing 70 provided in a base frame of the washer 20. The shaft 50 is rotatively driven through a pulley- .belt drive 54, and the hollow shaft 46 through a pulleybelt drive 56 by the motor 52. The motor 52 is a two .directional drive motor and is provided with the clutch mechanism. 62 adapted to automatically couple. the pulley- 2,995,917 Patented Aug. 15, 1961 belt drive 56 with the motor when it is rotating to drive or spin the receptacle 34 in a clockwise direction, and uncouple the drive 56 when the motor is counter rotating, that is, the motor drives through the pulley-belt drive 54, the shaft 50 and the dasher 36 in a clockwise direction. The pulley-belt drive 56 is never uncoupled from the motor.

Cooperating with the motor clutch 62 is the clutch 64 of the over-running spring type to connect the hollow shaft 46 in drive connection therewith when it is desired to spin the receptacle to centrifuge the water therefrom into the tub 32. The clutch 66 is a similar over-running spring type clutch but operates reversely to the clutch 64. The clutch 66 serves to bind upon the hollow shaft 46 and hold in non-rotation the basket 34 during the washing action by the dasher 36. The dasher 36 rotates in an orbital path about the axis of the shaft 50 due to the offset crank pin 69. The clutch 66 is mounted with and carried by the centering and supporting device 68 for the drive 44.

The dasher 36 is mounted to the crank pin 69 by an intermediate supporting body 72 in which is provided a circulating pump 78 for circulating the cleaning liquid or wash water from the receptacle to my heat treating apparatus 80 from which it drains back into the receptacle.

The supporting body 72 is formed with an upwardly extending head portion upon which is centered the dasher 36 and locked therewith by a cap 92. The lower end of the body 72 is provided with a shoulder 94 for resting the dasher. Extending downwardly from the shoulder 94 is a neck 96 to which is attached one end of a sleeve like boot 98 the other end of which is attached to an upwardly extending neck 100 of base 101 of the receptacle 34. The boot 98 holds the body 72 in a non-rotary movement to the receptacle. The crank pin 69 is journaled in the supporting body 72, and as it is carried by the rotation of the shaft 50 bodily about the axis of rotation of the shaft the pin 69 effects an orbital non-rotatary movement of the dasher, through the supporting body 72, to agitate the clothes and fluid within the stationary receptacle 34. The movement of the dasher 36 is like the movement of the dasher disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 602,812, new Patent No. 2,909,051, filed August 8, 1956, for Washing Machine.

The pump 78 comprises a cavity 102 in the supporting body 72 which is closed by a diaphragm 104 having a downwardly depending skirt 106 for securement upon a sleeve 5108. The lower end of the sleeve 108 is cut in a cam contour to serve as a follower 110 upon a cam surface 112 of aplate 114 thatis secured upon the shaft 50 for rotation therewith. A boot or shield 116 carried by the sleeve 108 extends downwardly over the plate 114 to protectively cover the cam sections from water and foreign matter. The boot 98 also'serves to prevent the washing solution in the receptacle 34 from penetrating to the shaft and cams, and prevents rotary movement of the dasher during washing. Springs 118, '120 serve to press the follower 110 upon the cam 112.

The cam 112 rotates with the shaft 50 and vertically reciprocates the follower 110 to vertically reciprocate the diaphragm 104 to eifect apumping action. The diaphragm 104 is preferably formed of flexible or resilient material. Formed integral with diaphragm 104 is a circumferential flap section to serve as an inlet valve 122 over inlet ports 124 formed in the supporting body 72.

The pump is positioned to be below the liquid or wash solution level generally maintained in the receptacle 34 for clothes washing. The wash solution enters the interior of the dasher. 36 to maintain an equal level with that in the receptacle and enters through the space hetween the lower edge of the dasher and the receptacle and through openings 126 extending through the wall of the dasher. Liquid enters the pump through ports 124 as the flap valve 122 is drawn away from the opening by the suction action created as the diaphragm moves downwardly. On the upstroke the flap reseals the inlet ports 124 to force the liquid out through an outlet port or opening 125 to flow through passage 132, a connecting passage 134 to an axially directed passage 135.

The passage 135 extends in axial alignment with the crank pin 69. The passage 135 connects with an angularly directed outlet passage 136 formed inthe cap 92. The outlet passage 136 is formed to direct a water spray or stream upwardly outwardly from the axis of the dasher in the orbital path of travel of the dasher. The path of travel of the outlet passage 136 is shown by dotted line 137 in FIG. 4.

The spray from the dasher is directed in an upward outward path, as shown by dotted line 138, to strike against the underside of the lid 42 to be deflected there from into an annular trough or collecting member 140. The annular trough 140 is formed at its outer periphery with an imperforate wall 142 that extends upwardly for securement to the underside, the deflector face, of the lid 42. The trough is so spaced below the lid that the angle of deflection of the spray or fluid flowing against the underside of the lid will cause to collect the greater portion of the fluid in the trough. The fluid not entrapped by the trough will drain back through the opening 38 into the receptacle 34. The trough is provided with an outlet opening 144, located preferably on the hinge side of the lid, that is adapted to drain the fluid into the heat treating apparatus 80.

My heat treating apparatus comprises a tank or receptacle 146 having a top wall 148, a bottom wall 150 and side walls 152. The tank 146 is supported in the upper portion of the cabinet 20 in an intermediate position between the trough 140 and the receptacle 34. The top wall 148 of the tank is formed to abut against the underside of the top wall 24 and of a ledge 154. The ledge is formed integral with the top wall and extends about the opening 40. An opening 156 is formed in the ledge in alignment with an opening 158 formed in the top wall 24. The openings 156, 158, are aligned with opening 144, for the passage of fluid therethrough from the trough 140 into the tank 146. The lid 24 seats upon the ledge 154 and is suitably gasketed therewith to prevent seepage therebetween to the outer surface of the top 24.

The tank or receptacle 146 is supported in the upper portion of the cabinet 20 above the basket 34 so that a portion of the tank overhangs over and above the central opening 38 of the receptacle 34 to permit the liquid or wash solution to drain from the tank through outlet openings 160 directly into the receptacle 34. The openings 160 are preferably formed in a side wall 152 that extends over and across the opening 38. Positioned within the tank and extending from the inlet opening 158 is a trough 1 161 to conduct the inflow across a filter screen 162. Positioned beneath the screen and adjacent the bottom wall of the tank is a tubular sheathed electric resistance heater 164 formed in a serpentined coil. The opening 160 is arranged in the wall 152 so that a substantial quantity of liquid is held in the tank for heating, preferably a greater quantity is held in the tank than is necessary to submerge the heater 164. The heated liquid will rise to the surface level of the liquid to overflow through the outlet openings 160 to drain into the receptacle 34. To permit complete drainage of the tank of all cleaning fluid upon completion of the washing action a small opening or orifice 165 is provided in the bottom wall 150 and is located above the opening 38 to allow drainage directly into the receptacle 34. This orifice 165 will drain con tinuously as long as liquid is in the tank, but it is so arranged that it will have no appreciable eflect'on the 4 liquid level in the tank 146 for the liquid supplied thereinto will be suflicient so that the heated liquid will overflow through the outlet openings 160.

The heater 164 is regulated by thermostats 166 or 168 positioned within the tank for contact with the washing fluid. The thermostats are selectively placed. in series circuit with the heater through a manually operated switch 170 (see FIG. 5) by the operator dependent upon to what temperature the washing fluid is to be heated. The thermostat 166 will d'e-energize the heater whenthe fluids temperature preferably attains F., while the thermostat 168 will tie-energize the heater when the fluid preferably attains 200 F. It will be obvious that if desired, a thermostat having a variable setting may be employed, or one of the thermostats may be eliminated.

An access or clean out opening is formed in the top wall 148 of the tank 146 in alignment with an opening 174 formed in the top wall 24 of the cabinet. The opening 174 is closed by a closure member 176. The openings permit easy removal of dirt, lint and other foreign matter that has been entrapped by the filter screen, or to permit the screens removal and replacement.

Th receptacle 34 is directly filled with washing fluid from a suitable source of supply through a conduit and a nozzle 192. The supply flow is regulated by a solenoid operated valve 194 that is energized and de-energized through a control switch 196 in a timer control 200.

The timer control 200 is of a conventional design having a series of switches actuated by operation of a timer motor 202 in diflerent desired sequences in accordance to the automatic washing sequences desired. In FIG. 5

the time is diagrammatically illustrated having a switch 204 to control the drive motor 52, the switch 196 for the solenoid operated valve 194, a switch 206 to control the heater circuit 210, and a switch 208 for the timer motor 202.

The heater circuit 210 is connected and disconnected to power supply lines 212, 214 through a relay circuit 216 which comprises a centrifugal switch 218 and a relay coil 220. The switch 218 is preferably incorporated in the motor 52 to be actuated and held in on position as long as the motor is operating. The energized coil 220 will close a double pole switch 222 to close a circuit from the power supply line 212, through line 230 to the switch 206, through line 232 to heater 164, through the selective switch 170 to either thermostat 166 or 168, and through line 234 to the power supply line 214.

The washing machine is set in operation by a manual setting of the dial 236 of the timer 200 whereupon, through the operation of the timer motor the switches will be actuated in a sequence that will automatically operate the washing machine through a series of operations in a well known and conventional manner as has been briefly described above. 'That is, the valve 194 opens to fill the receptacle with cold or unheated. liquid, the dasher is set in motion for wash followed by rotation of the receptacle to centrifuge the washing fluid from clothes and receptacle into the outer tub for draining therefrom. This is followed by one or more rinse periods, that is, refilling the receptacle with clear water and either operating the dasher for a short period, or merely spinning the receptacle to centrifuge the fluid from clothes and receptacle to the outer tub for draining therefrom. In each period, wash and rinse, that the dasher is operated it will through the fluid pump circulate the water from the receptacle by spray towards the tank. As previously described the fluid will be heated as it passes through the tank during the wash action and by the timer switch 206 the heater is preferably energized only for the wash period, however, the switch 206 may be arranged to be reclosed by the 'timer to heat the circulating rinse water for one or more tion may be desired in some instances to obtain this filtering without the use of the heater. The switch 218 is provided to safeguard the heater in a dry tank should the motor 52 fail to tunction.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing (from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a movable receptacle, movable washing means in said receptacle, fluid heating means external of said receptacle, pump means carried by and operable conjointly with said washing means for effecting a flow of fluid from said receptacle to said fluid heating means, and said fluid heating means being positioned to permit the gravity return of the heated fluid to said receptacle.

2. In a washing machine, a movable receptacle adapted to receive clothes and washing fluid, movable washing means in said receptacle, power means, said power means connected for alternately moving said receptacle to extract fluid therefrom and operating said washing means to agitate the fluid within said receptacle, fluid heating means, pump means carried by and operable conjointly with said washing means for effecting a flow of fluid from said receptacle to said fluid heating means, and said fluid heating means being positioned over and above said receptacle to return the heat treated fluid into said receptacle.

3. In a washing machine, a movable receptacle adapted to receive clothes and washing fluid, movable washing means in said receptacle, power means, said power means connected for alternately moving said receptacle to extract fluid therefrom and operating said washing means to agitate the fluid within said receptacle, fluid heating means, pump means operable conjointly with said washing means for effecting a flow of fluid from said receptacle to said fluid heating means, and said fluid heating means including means arranged to retain a liquid level therewith and to direct the overflow to drain into said receptacle, and an outlet arranged to automatically drain said fluid heating means when said pump means becomes inoperable.

4. In a washing machine, a pair of fluid holding receptacles, one of said receptacles being suspended above to project over the other receptacle to drain fluid from the upper to the lower receptacle, driving means for rotating said lower receptacle, movable washing means in said lower receptacle, heating means associated with said upper receptacle to heat the fluid therein, pump means operable with said washing means for effecting a flow of fluid from said lower to said upper receptacle and means to alternately make inoperable said pump means and washing means during operation of said driving means and make inoperable said driving means during operation of said pump means and washing means.

5. In a washing machine, a first receptacle adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, a movable dasher in said first receptacle, driving means for said dasher, pump means within said dasher, said pump means operably driven by said driving means conjointly with said dasher, an inlet for said pump means to withdraw fluid from said first receptacle, an outlet passage leading from said pump means upwardly of said dasher to an outlet opening above the normal liquid level in said first receptacle, a deflector exterior of said first receptacle, a second receptacle exterior of said first receptacle, said first receptacle, deflector and second receptacle arranged to provide a flow circulation therebetween with said deflector arranged for deflecting the flow striking thereagainst from the outlet of the movable dasher for flow into said second receptacle, and an outlet in said second receptacle for draining the fluid into said first receptacle, and means for heating the fluid in said second receptacle.

6. In a washing machine, a first receptacle adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, a movable dasher in said first receptacle, driving means for said dasher, pump means within said dasher, said pump means operably driven by said driving means conjointly with said dasher, an inlet for said pump means to withdraw fluid from said first receptacle, an outlet passage leading from said pump means upwardly of said dasher to an outlet opening above the normal liquid level in said first receptacle, a deflector exterior of said receptacle, a second receptacle exterior of said first receptacle, said first receptacle, deflector and second receptacle arranged to provide a flow circulation therebetween with said deflector arranged for deflecting the flow striking thereagainst from the outlet of the movable dasher tor flow into said second receptacle, an outlet in said second receptacle for draining therefrom fluid into said first receptacle and arranged to maintain :a liquid level in said second receptacle, and means for heating the fluid in said second receptacle.

7. In a washing machine, a first receptacle adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, a movable dasher in said first receptacle, driving means for said dasher, pump means within said dasher, said pump means operably driven by said driving means conjointly with said dasher, an inlet for said pump means to withdraw fluid from said first receptacle, an outlet passage leading from said pump means upwardly of said dasher to an outlet opening above the normal liquid level in said first receptacle, a second receptacle exterior of said first receptacle, a water collecting trough exterior of said first receptacle and adapted to drain into said swond receptacle, said trough positioned to collect fluid flowing from the outlet opening of the movable dasher, an outlet in said second receptacle arranged to drain therefrom into said first receptacle, and means for heating the fluid in said second receptacle.

8. In a washing machine, a first receptacle adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, a movable dasher in said first receptacle, driving means for said dasher, pump means within said dasher, said pump means operably driven by said driving means conjointly with said dasher, an inlet for said pump means to withdraw fluid from said first receptacle, an outlet passage leading from said pump means upwardly of said dasher to an outlet opening above the normal liquid level in said first receptacle, 9. second receptacle exterior of said first receptacle, a water collecting trough exterior of said first. receptacle and adapted to drain into said second receptacle, said trough being positioned to collect fluid flowing :from the outlet opening of the movable dasher, an outlet means in said second receptacle arranged to drain the fluid into said first receptacle in a manner to maintain a liquid level in said second receptacle, means for heating the fluid in said second receptacle, and a second outlet means to drain said second receptacle when said pump means becomes inoperable.

9. In a washing machine having a cabinet, an opening in said cabinet, a closure means for said opening, a receptacle within said cabinet adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, washing means movably mounted within said receptacle including a hollow dasher and a cap, said cap having an angularly directed outlet passage above the normal liquid level in said receptacle, drive means for moving said washing means in an orbital path in said receptacle, pump means carried by and operable conjointly with said washing means, said pump means having an inlet for withdrawing fluid from said receptacle and a discharge passage in communication with said angularly directed outlet passage for ejecting the fluid in a stream therefrom, said outlet passage being angled to direct the stream to strike against said closure means, a trough carried by said closure means in spaced relation thereto to entrap the stream of fluid deflected by said closure means, a tank having an inlet and an outlet opening, said trough having an outlet opening in communication with said inlet opening of said tank, said tank being suspended relative to said receptacle to drain fluid through said outlet opening of said tank into said receptacle, and means for heating the fluid in said tank.

10. A washing machine comprising a cabinet, an opening in said cabinet, a closure member for said opening, a receptacle within said cabinet adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, an access opening in said receptacle in alignment with said cabinet opening, washing means movably mounted within said receptacle including a dasher and dasher supporting means, drive means for moving said dasher within said receptacle, pump means positioned within said dasher and operable conjointly therewith by said drive means, a cap for securing said dasher to said supporting means and having a fluid passage outlet above the normal liquid level in said receptacle, said pump means having an inlet for withdrawing fluid from about said dasher and a discharge in communication with said outlet in said cap, said pump means discharging the fluid under pressure from said outlet in a forceful stream to strike against said closure member, a collecting means for collecting the fluid deflected by said closure member, means for heating the collected fluid, and means for draining said collected fluid back into said receptacle through said access opening.

11. A washing machine comprising a cabinet, an opening in said cabinet, a closure member for said opening, an open top receptacle within said cabinet adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, said cabinet opening aligned in spaced apart relation -with the opening to said receptacle for access thereinto, washing means movably mounted in said receptacle including a hollow dasher and a cap therefor, said cap having a passage with an outlet above the normal liquid level in said receptacle, drive means for moving said dasher and cap in an orbital path in said receptacle, pump means positioned within and operable conjointly with said dasher by said drive means, said pump means having an inlet for withdrawing wash fluid from about said dasher and a discharge in communication with said passage and outlet in said cap to project a flow under pressure outwardly therefrom, said passage extended through said cap to its outlet to direct the flow in an upward outward direction from the axis of said cap and dasher to strike against said closure member, a trough carried by said closure member to collect the fluid deflected by said closure member, a tank supported within said cabinet intermediate said trough and said receptacle and having a portion thereof projecting partly over and above the opening of said receptacle, said tank having an inlet means and an outlet opening, said trough having outlet means over said inlet means of said tank, said projecting portion of said tank having draining means including said outlet opening for draining the fluid from said tank to said receptacle, filter means in said tank, and heating means for heating the fluid in said tank.

12. A washing machine comprising a cabinet, an opening in said cabinet, a closure member for said opening, an open top receptacle within said cabinet adapted to contain clothes and washing fluid, said cabinet opening aligned in spaced apart relation with the opening to said receptacle for access thereinto, washing means movably mounted in said receptacle including a hollow dasher and a cap therefor, said cap having a passage with an outlet above the normal liquid level in said receptacle, drive means for moving said dasher and cap in an orbital path in said receptacle, pump means positioned within and operable conjointly with said dasher by said drive means, said pump means having an inlet for withdrawing wash fluid from about said dasher and a discharge in communication with said passage and outlet in said cap to project a flow under pressure outwardly therefrom, said passage extended through said cap to its outlet to direct the flow in an upward outward direction from the axis of said cap and dasher to strike against said closure member, an annular trough carried by said closure member to collect the fluid deflected by said closure member, a tank supported within said cabinet relative to said trough and said open receptacle to receive the flow from said trough and drain into said open receptacle, said tank having an inlet opening, said trough having outlet means over said inlet opening, said tank having an outlet opening to direct the drain therefrom into said open receptacle, said outlet opening of said tank arranged to provide a liquid level in said tank, and. heating means in said tank below said liquid leveL 13. In a washing machine, a pair of fluid holding reseptacles, one of said receptacles suspended above to project over the other receptacle to drain fluid from the upper to the lower receptacle, including means to maintain a minimum liquid level in said upper receptacle, movable washing means in said lower receptacle, drive means for operating said washing means, pump means vwithin said lower receptacle operable by said driving means conjointly with said washing means for eflecting a flow of fluid from said lower to said upper receptacle, heating means within said upper receptacle to heat the fluid therein, and a thermostat to control said heating means in response to the temperature of the fluid in said upper receptacle.

14. In a washing machine, a pair of fluid holding receptacles, one of said receptacles suspended above to project over the other receptacle to drain fluid from the upper to the lower receptacle, movable washing means in said lower receptacle, drive means for operating said washing means, pump means operable by said driving means conjointly with said washing means for eflecting a flow of fluid from said lower to said upper receptacle, an electrically operated heating means associated with said upper receptacle to heat the fluid therein, a pair of thermostats each responsive to a diiferent temperature of the fluid in said tank, said thermostats each connectable in series circuit with said electrically operated heating means, and a manually operated selective switch for selectively connecting one of said thermostats in series circuit with said electrically operated heating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,021,466 Rocke Nov. 19, 1935 2,737,040 Anderson Mar. 6, 1956 2,816,429 Kurlancheek Dec. 17, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 725,770 Switzerland June 15, 1951 

